Tropical Malady (2004)

  'Tropical Malady' is a 2004 Thai film directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

  The film is split into two halves. The first half starts in the jungle, were a group of soldiers find a body. Then they visit a village, where Tong and Keng fall in love. Keng is a soldier, while Tong is a village boy, and as they take trips into the countryside, they start a romance. The second half is set entirely in the jungle, involving Keng and a shape-shifting tiger shaman. As Keng leaves the village to find a lost villager, he gets lost himself.

  The second Apichatpong Weerasethakul, finshes off where 'Blissfully Yours' left off. Turns out the body the soldiers discover at the beginning is 'Min' from 'Blissfully Yours' but it has no significance in the story. Just a little easter egg. Uncle Boonme, is also mentioned, as well as the cave Tong and Keng go down is featured in 'Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall his Past Lives'. Weerasethakul has created a whole dream-like world, where characters come and go as they please.

  The first half might be considered a 'gay' film, but there is no kissing or making love, their emotions are merely mutual. The romance they have could easily be between a man and a woman, so the fact they are gay doesn't change my perception on the film. There is also no bullshit Hollywood schmultz, or a break-up half way through, and at the end they get together. Instead it shows two men having a romance, nothing more, nothing less.

  Weerasethakul's films are personal and spiritual. Featuring shamans, spirits, afterlife and occasionally go off on tangents. Strange plot structure is used, his endings are ambiguous and his shots are long with no story development happening in them. Once you get past these barriers, then you can enjoy his obscure films. All his films are masterpieces, but you have to understand the film-maker to realize this.

  The second half of the film is a beautiful and intense encounter with a shaman. Featured in the same forest as some of his other films, this has a sinister tone and a terrifying ending. It's the film I was hoping 'Blissfully Yours' to be. A film which is more story-driven and more powerful. This film has no flaws and was enjoyable thoughout.

TO CONCLUDE
Weerasethakul's films are unlike anything else in world cinema. A relaxing first half and an intense, profound second half.

SCORE
81